Bird guide · Haemorhous purpureus
Purple Finch
What the purple finch eats, where it lives, when it comes to feeders and how to recognise it – with sightings from every US state.
- Season
- Migrant; moves in flocks by day.
- Size
- 6 in (15.5 cm)
- Eats
- seeds
- Feeds
- tube, hopper
- Most common
- Maine, Vermont, Washington
Food
What do purple finches eat?
At feeders, purple finches take seeds.
Comes to feeders, though less often in the Northeast where House Sparrows and House Finches compete.
Feeder that suits it
A tube or hopper feeder with sunflower seed or sunflower hearts.
Range
Where do purple finches live?
North, East and Pacific seaboard; very rare in much of the Rockies. By share of all bird sightings, purple finches are most common in Maine (0.6%).
States where purple finches are most common
- Maine0.6%
- Vermont0.6%
- Washington0.6%
- New Hampshire0.6%
- Oregon0.5%
- Minnesota0.3%
- New York0.3%
- California0.2%
- Wisconsin0.2%
- Missouri0.2%
Share of all bird sightings in each state that are purple finches, 2019–2024.
Season
Does the purple finch migrate?
Migrant; moves in flocks by day.. Across the US it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in April.
Share of all bird sightings in the US that are purple finches, by month.
Identification
How to identify the purple finch
Male: Chunky finch washed with old-rose red on the head and foreparts, without dark side stripes.
Female: Strong face pattern with a dark whisker and whitish eyebrow.
Size: 6 in (15.5 cm)
Easily confused with
- House Finch – male has streaked sides; female plain-faced
- Cassin's Finch – mountain West
On camera
Getting the purple finch on a feeder camera
Any seed camera feeder works. Hang it near shrubs for cover, about five feet off the ground, with the lens facing away from direct sun.
Questions
Purple Finch: questions
What do purple finches eat?
At feeders, seeds.
Do purple finches migrate?
Migrant; moves in flocks by day.. Across the US it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in April.
Where do purple finches live?
By share of all bird sightings, they are most common in Maine, Vermont, Washington, New Hampshire, Oregon. They are rare or absent in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho.
What does a female purple finch look like?
Strong face pattern with a dark whisker and whitish eyebrow.